YouTube Channel Now Available to Roku 3 Users

By Todd R. Weiss |
Posted 2013-12-19

YouTube video content can now be viewed using Roku 3 streaming video devices, giving users a broader selection of video to watch from all over the world.

Roku users in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland are now able to view YouTube video content, under a deal reached by the two companies, according to Sarah Ali, YouTube product manager, who announced the move in a Dec. 17 post on the YouTube Official Blog.

The new YouTube service for Roku 3 devices is viewable in high definition and includes a new "Send to TV" command that lets customers use a smartphone to push the content to a television. "Control YouTube on Roku from that sick new phone you just got, turning your TV into your personal Jumbotron," wrote Ali. "Just connect your device to the same Wi-Fi as your Roku."

Users can also now sign into their YouTube accounts to easily view their subscribed YouTube channels on their televisions, she wrote. "Check out their video to learn more and download the YouTube channel for Roku today."

YouTube also recently announced its list of the most-watched YouTube videos for 2013. The lists included a Norwegian Army dance troupe, a Fox and a rap battle with an 18th century Austrian composer, according to Kevin Allocca, the head of culture and trends at YouTube, in a Dec. 11 post on the YouTube Official Blog. "As 2013 comes to a close, these are some of the videos, channels and moments that shaped our year."

The top trending video on YouTube in 2013 is "The Fox," which has been watched more than 275 million times, according to Allocca. "You also made it a top searched Halloween costume, and you'll maybe even read it as a children's book. You turned out in record-setting numbers to see PSY's post-'Gangnam Style' performance. You even made more 'Harlem Shake' videos than there are people in Manhattan (1.7 million videos if you're counting)."

In November, YouTube announced the first group of winners for its inaugural Music Awards, which were selected based on fans voting for their favorite music videos.

Eminem was selected as Artist of the Year and Taylor Swift was chosen as YouTube Phenomenon.

Artist of the Year nominees included Eminem, Epic Rap Battles of History, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Nicki Minaj, One Direction, PSY, Rihanna and Taylor Swift. The inaugural awards show was unveiled by Google in early October to honor the artists and songs that dedicated YouTube viewers and fans have turned into hits over the past year.

In September, YouTube streamed live online coverage of the 2013 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week events in New York City, bringing the latest fashions and trends to the world. Included in the YouTube coverage were more than 60 live shows from BCBG, Rachel Zoe, Betsey Johnson, Jenny Packham and more on the IMG Fashion YouTube channel, as well as stylish channel live stream shows on getting made up to the hilt with expert help from fashion and make-up experts such as Louise Goldin and Jeremy Scott.

In August, YouTube celebrated geeks with its first-ever "Geek Week" event that highlighted content, including "Game of Thrones," "The Big Bang Theory," Harry Potter and "The Avengers." The Geek Week celebration highlighted the global community on YouTube that loves superheroes, comics, gaming, science and science fiction.

In May 2013, YouTube turned 8 years old, having launched in May 2005 as a video-sharing Website where people could post their creative works and watch to see if they gained any footholds. YouTube's popularity has been huge, with the site receiving more than 100 hours of uploaded video from creators each minute. All of that video content is being created by millions of partners and contributors, some of whom have become very popular through the growing site.

In March 2013, YouTube announced that it has been providing video content for more than 1 billion viewers per month. The popular video-sharing site has helped launch the careers of a slew of entertainers and made celebrities out of ordinary citizens, thanks to viral videos.